With trade deadline in sight, Orioles focused on pitching

CaptionChicago Cubs RHP Matt Garza

Benny Sieu-USA TODAY Sports

Age: 29 2013 Stats: 3-1, 3.83 ERA in 8 starts; 49 1/3 IP, 42H, 15BB, 47Ks. Career stats: 60-62, 3.84 ERA. 178 games in eight MLB seasons Contract: $10.25M in 2013; Free agent at season's end. Skinny: Of all those rumored to be available, Garza may be the best fit in terms of talent, experience and a manageable contract. He's had success in the AL East (3.86 ERA in three seasons with Tampa Bay) and the playoffs (2-1, 3.48 ERA in five postseason starts). The sense is that he may be the only truly available starter that could join the Orioles rotation and immediately lead it. The Orioles are definitely interested, but there are some concerns that the cost in players will be too salty for a pending free agent with an injury history -- Garza missed the first six-plus weeks of the season with a lat strain. Connolly's take: There'll be plenty of competition for Garza, and the Orioles might have to part with a legit prospect like Eduardo Rodriguez to get him. If it gets that far, the club will have to decide if the cost is too much. But Garza's probably the best they can get. It'd be a splash, and I wouldn't rule it out.

Age: 29 2013 Stats: 3-1, 3.83 ERA in 8 starts; 49 1/3 IP, 42H, 15BB, 47Ks. Career stats: 60-62, 3.84 ERA. 178 games in eight MLB seasons Contract: $10.25M in 2013; Free agent at season's end. Skinny: Of all those rumored to be available, Garza may be the best fit in terms of talent, experience and a manageable contract. He's had success in the AL East (3.86 ERA in three seasons with Tampa Bay) and the playoffs (2-1, 3.48 ERA in five postseason starts). The sense is that he may be the only truly available starter that could join the Orioles rotation and immediately lead it. The Orioles are definitely interested, but there are some concerns that the cost in players will be too salty for a pending free agent with an injury history -- Garza missed the first six-plus weeks of the season with a lat strain. Connolly's take: There'll be plenty of competition for Garza, and the Orioles might have to part with a legit prospect like Eduardo Rodriguez to get him. If it gets that far, the club will have to decide if the cost is too much. But Garza's probably the best they can get. It'd be a splash, and I wouldn't rule it out. (Benny Sieu-USA TODAY Sports)

Age: 30 2013 Stats: 7-6, 3.46 ERA in 15 starts; 91 IP, 79H, 25BB, 67Ks Career stats: 46-50, 4.66 ERA. 219 games in nine MLB seasons Contract: $7M in 2013; Free agent at season's end Skinny: Because he has been a reliever and spot starter, Feldman has made just 30-plus starts in a season once -- in 2009 when he was 17-9 with a 4.08 ERA in 34 games (31 starts) with Texas. He pitched for the Rangers from 2005 to 2012 and has long been a Showalter favorite. Showalter and Duquette are big on team chemistry and this guy, from all accounts, would assimilate seamlessly. And he's more than just a morale boost. He has pitched well in 2013 and has postseason experience (a 3.29 ERA in nine relief appearances in 2011). The Orioles had interest in him last offseason. Connolly's take: If I had to wager which starting pitcher the Orioles land, my money is on Feldman. He's not as sexy as some others, but wouldn't cost as much and could help down the stretch.

Age: 30 2013 Stats: 7-6, 3.46 ERA in 15 starts; 91 IP, 79H, 25BB, 67Ks Career stats: 46-50, 4.66 ERA. 219 games in nine MLB seasons Contract: $7M in 2013; Free agent at season's end Skinny: Because he has been a reliever and spot starter, Feldman has made just 30-plus starts in a season once -- in 2009 when he was 17-9 with a 4.08 ERA in 34 games (31 starts) with Texas. He pitched for the Rangers from 2005 to 2012 and has long been a Showalter favorite. Showalter and Duquette are big on team chemistry and this guy, from all accounts, would assimilate seamlessly. And he's more than just a morale boost. He has pitched well in 2013 and has postseason experience (a 3.29 ERA in nine relief appearances in 2011). The Orioles had interest in him last offseason. Connolly's take: If I had to wager which starting pitcher the Orioles land, my money is on Feldman. He's not as sexy as some others, but wouldn't cost as much and could help down the stretch. (Benny Sieu-USA TODAY Sports)

With the Orioles entering July in second place in the American League East and tied with the Oakland A's for the top Wild Card spot, it's natural to look ahead to the end of the month and baseball's non-waiver trade deadline.

The Orioles are, without a doubt, buyers this time around — with potential needs in the rotation, bullpen and possibly at designated hitter.

"Our pitching needs to improve, whether that's better performance from the players we have or additions we can make to the team if we are going to advance," said Orioles executive vice president Dan Duquette. "It's always about pitching. [Trading for it] is always a possibility."

There are plenty of options for the Orioles if they are going to jump into the trade market — with a tandem of Chicago Cubs right-handers, Matt Garza and Scott Feldman, and Houston right-hander Bud Norris appearing to be toward the top of the club's wish list.

The Orioles have had talks — some external, some internal — involving more than a half-dozen starters. As one industry source said, "Dan's been busy."

Duquette won't talk specifics, but he said he believes there are "some good pitchers on the trade market."

The Orioles' rotation is currently led by Chris Tillman, Miguel Gonzalez and Jason Hammel, with Wei-Yin Chen expected back from an oblique injury soon. Zach Britton, Kevin Gausman and T.J. McFarland are among the pitchers on the 25-man roster that could fill the fifth rotation spot.

Britton also could be trade bait along with talented but enigmatic Triple-A starter Jake Arrieta. With Gausman likely untouchable and injuries to two of their other top prospects — right-hander Dylan Bundy (Tommy John surgery; out until 2014) and infielder Jonathan Schoop (stress fracture in back; has begun baseball activities) — the Orioles don't have many highly regarded youngsters in their system. The best of the rest is 20-year-old lefty Eduardo Rodriguez, whom the Orioles are reluctant to deal.

"We'll see where it goes, but we have the wherewithal to make a trade or two if we think we need to make a trade," Duquette said. "Our farm system is improving and other teams like some of our players. And not just our marquee prospects, but we have some other prospects."

Although the Orioles have big league pitching depth, they don't have anyone established at the top of the rotation and their stalwart bullpen has shown cracks this year.

"Pitching is not just one or two spots — it's the whole staff," Duquette said. "And last year we were really strong in the bullpen and our bullpen is not as strong as it was last year. And our starting pitching, until recently, hasn't been in the middle of the pack."

Duquette seems to be content with the club's offense, although a more established designated hitter — Philadelphia Phillies infielder and Buck Showalter favorite Michael Young is one veteran expected to be available — wouldn't hurt. Duquette, however, said he thinks the club has enough internal candidates — including Brian Roberts, Nolan Reimold and, eventually, Wilson Betemit — that obtaining another hitter is not a priority.

The Orioles’ hope of having four elected starters for the annual All-Star Game took a hit Monday when Major League Baseball announced that Toronto’s Jose Bautista has surged ahead of Nick Markakis for the last outfield spot.

With Camden Yards rocking, ESPN cameras filming and a million or so Americans watching, Chris Tillman took the mound for the Orioles against the New York Yankees, pitching them to a win Sunday night and a sweep.

With the 2015 baseball season just underway, USA Today has released its annual comprehensive list of player salaries. The publication gathers the data from "documents obtained from the MLB Players Association, club officials and filed with Major League Baseball's central office. Deferred payments...